Truck-transferring mechanism.



D. R. TANNER.

TRUCK TRANSFERRING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. [9| I915.

Patented Sept. 14, 1915.

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APPLICATION FILED JAN. 19. ms.

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- D. R. TANNER.

TRUCK TRANSFERRING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 19. 19:5.

PatentedSept. 14, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

D. R. TANNER.

TRUCK TRANSFERRING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION EILEDJAN. 19. 1915.

Patented Sept. 14:, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

earn satire DANIEL It. TANNER, OF LA GR-ANDE, OREGON.

TRUCK-TRANSFERRING MECHANISM.

Application filed. January 19, 1915.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DANIEL R. TANNER, a citizen of the United States, residing at La Grande, in the county of Union and State of Oregon, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Truck-Transferring Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in transfer mechanism, and has to do more particularly with improvements in this type of devices having to do with the transfer of truck from one set of tracks to another.

The invention is especially adapted for the transfer of trucks loaded with material and which are to be advanced from relatively widely separated points in loading and unloading.

One of the special utilities of my invention is in the transfer of kiln trucks so that a. truck may be loaded from the lumber yard and advanced to the transfer mechanism for transfer to trackage leading to the kiln shed. storage houses and other points.

My invention includes a transfer car together with mechanism for advancing the car from registry with the various tracks to registry with other tracks, the car being provided with means for advancing the truck onto the car or off from the car, while the latter is in a position of rest.

My invention includes an advancing or propelling mechanism for the car which is in the form of a cable loop, which during operation, is constantly running, the car being provided with devices coacting with laps of the cable loop, alternately, to advance the car in either of two directions.

A further novel feature consists in utilizing the cable driven means of the car for advancing the trucks onto and off from the car and to and from desired points upon the transport trackage, leading to the car.

Other features of novelty will be more fully described in connection with the, accompanying drawings and will be more particularly pointed out in and by the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view illustrative of one embodiment of my invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional View on line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a view in side elevation of the transfer car on an enlarged scale. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the ear shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a sectional view on line Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. MC, 1915.

Serial No. 3,072.

5-5 of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a sectional view on hne 66 of Fig. 4.. Fig. 7 is a sectional view on line 77 of Fig. 3. Fig. 8 is a view looking in the direction of arrow 8 of Fig. 7, showing one set of driv sheaves. Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8, showing the. other set of drive sheaves. Fig. 10 is a sectional view on line 10-1O of Fig. 5. Fig. 11 is an edge View of the structure shown 1n Fig. 10. Fig. 12 is a sectional View on line 1212 of Fig. 4. Fig. 13 is a sectional view on line 13-13 of Fig. 5. Fig. 14 is a sectional view on line 14-14 of Fig. 3. Fig. 15 is a sectional view on line 15-15 of Fig. 5.

Like characters of reference designate similar parts throughout the different figures of the drawings.

As illustrated, the structure of my invention includes a pit 1 which extends transversely of a plurality of sets of transport tracks 2, 3 and 4. Considering the invention as a kiln truck transfer mechanism, the tracks 2 may be considered as leading from the sorting platform, not shown, while tracks 3 lead from the kiln sheds, the tracks 4 leading from suitable storage yards or houses. All the tracks extend toward and terminate at the sides of the pit, and in the latter are disposed trackage which may comprise three rails 5, for the transfer car. Trackage 5 is co-extensive in length with the extent of travel of the car so that the latter may be brought into registry with any of the sets of transport trackage hereinbefore referred to. In the form shown. transfer car advancing means is in the form of a cable 6 which is shown trained about sheaves 7 and 8 at opposite terminal points of travel of thetransfer car. The sheaves 7 and 8 are disposed in a manner to locate either lap of the cable loop in an accessible position for coacting with devices on the car, about to be described. A belt 9, trained about a pulley 10, may. form the means for constantly driving the cable 6 while the device of my invention is in service. A material or kiln truck is indicated at 11 and is shown loaded with lumber 12, the truck being shown advancing upon the transfer car, in Fig. 2.

My improved transfer car includes a truck supporting portion which is generally indicated at 13, and an operating portion which is generally indicated at 14. The truck supbeams 17 and 18, respectively, to run on trackage 5, in the pit 1. Truck supporting rails 21 are disposed upon beams 15 and 16 in spaced relation to register in gage with the various sets of transport tracks 2, 3, and

4, when the transfer car is advanced into suitable positions. The rails/5 21 are the truck rails on which the trucks are rolled onto and off from the transfer car.

'The operating portion of the transfer car comprises converging frame members 22 which extend forwardly from beam 16 to a point where they are connected by a transverse frame member 23. Transverse frame members 24 and 25 serve to sustain the operating frame under stress, and the central bearing beams 18 extend forwardly where they support a front car wheel 26. A platform for the operator may be suitably disposed upon the operating frame portion 14 so that-the operator may ride upon the transfer car and be at all times in a position of accessibility.

I will next describe a portion of mechanism which is carried by the car and which is in constant coaction with, and which is preferably continuously operated by the cable 6.

. cated in Fig. 4. Lap a trained for one or more turns.

sheave, that idler sheave coacting with sheave 30-, being designated at 31. With reference to Fig. 7, lap a is paid in at 32, about sheave 30 and sheave 31, and is paid out at 33, from sheave 31 and about sheave 30 in the direction of the arrow toward sheave 8. Alined -superposed bearings 34 and 35 are mounted upon the car to support a gypsy head shaft 36, on the lower end of which a drive sheave 37 is mounted. Lap 6, of the cable 6, is trained about sheave 37, and a companion idler sheave 38, as indiis trained in cross drive about sheaves 30 and 31 but in direct drive about sheaves 37 and 38. Idlers 31 and 38 are mounted upon shafts 39 and 40, which are suitably journaled in bearings 41 and 42, secured to beams 16. The idlers 31 and 38 are slightly canted with respect to their drive sheaves, as. clearly shown in Figs. 8 and 9, for a purpose which will be ob- VlOllS.

I will next describe means for controlling the drive sheaves for the purpose of causing the latter to coact with the cable in such a manner as to advance the transfer car in the pit 1 in either of two directions longitudinally therein.

On winch shaft 29 is mounted a friction drum 43 and on head shaft 36 is mounted a friction drum 44. Friction bands 45 and' 46 are trained about said drums, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 10. An anchorage bar 47 is provided for anchorage of ends 48 and 49,

of said straps, 01" bands, by means indicated at 50 and 51. An operating shaft 52 is journaled in a suitable bearing in the car frame, and mounted upon said shaft 52 is a bell crank lever having arms 53 and 54. End 55, of friction band 45, is secured to arm 53, and end 56, of band 46, is secured to arm 54. At its upper end, shaft 52 is journaled in bearing 57, mounted on the upper end of an upright frame 58. An operating lever 59 provides for-turning shaft 52 in opposite directions in accordance with whichever friction drum, 43 or 44, it is desired to brake. If brakage or friction is applied to either drum, its respective drive sheave will be arrested and will cease to run idly by reason of the running lap or cable trained thereabout. This will result in advancing the car in a direction in accordance with the sheave which is arrested. In accordance with this arrangement, the drums can only be alternately controlled, the same remaining inactive when the lever 59 is in a neutral position.

When the car is brought to a position where its truck tracks register with any one set of transport tracks, it is desirable to lock the transfer car in such position until the truck has been advanced onto the car, and I provide novel means for the performance of this function.

By reference more particularly to Fig. 11, it will be seen that sockets 60 are disposed in the walls of the pit 1, on opposite sides thereof. On beam 16, in suitable bearings 61 and 62, I slidably mount locking rods 63 and 64, respectively. An operating shaft 65 carries a lever 66 to the ends of which link rods 67 and 68 are pivoted, the remaining ends of said rods being pivoted to the locking rods, at 69 and 70, respectively. On the forward end of said operating shaft 65 is mounted a foot controlled lever 71, provided with a weighted end 72. hen the lever is thrown in one direction, the locking rod will be projected into the socket 60 to lock the transfer car with its truck tracks 21, in fixed registry with the selected set of transport tracks. Reverse operation of lever 71 will withdraw the locking rods. The weight 7 2 is preferably sufficient to hold the lever 71 in either of its extreme positions.

The mechanism on the car, driven by the cable, includes devices for drawing the trucks onto and off from the car, and also if desirable, for advancing the trucks along selected transport tracks to predetermined points remote from the transfer car.

As illustrated, a winch or, winding. drum 73 is loosely mounted on winch shaft 29 and interposed between said'winch 73 and bearing 28 is a thrust collar 74. Thrust collar 74 is provided with a thrust tooth 75, the bearing 28 being provided with a recess comple mental in form with respect to said tooth 75 so as to permit the collar 74 to lie fiat upon bearing 28. When collar 74 is rotated so that the tooth 75 will ride upon the top face of bearing 28, said collar 74 will shift winch 73 longitudinally of shaft 29, and in the present construction, in an upward direction. Fixed to shaft 29 is a thrust friction head 76, provided with a fiber or like friction ring 77 adapted to be engaged by the upper flange 78 of winch 73, when the latter is elevated. Thus when winch 73 is elevated it will be frictionally coupled with shaft 29 so as to rotate therewith. The means for operating or rotating collar 74 into and out of thrust or shifting position, includes an arm 79 which is telescopically connected with collar 74, at 80, and link rod 81 connects arm 79 with arm 82, the latter being mounted upon a sleeve 83 loose on shaft 52. Sleeve 83 is supported against downward movement on shaft 52 by a collar 84, fixed to said shaft. An operating lever 85 is mounted on sleeve 83 to rotate the latter in opposite directions for shifting the thrust collar 74. Now a suitable cable such as indicated at 86 Y may be operated by winch drum 73 and connected with a truck to draw the latter onto the transfer car. Likewise, a bight of cable 86 may be trained through a snatch block and connected with a truck on the transfer car to not only advance the truck off from the car but into a kiln shed or other desired point.

A yp y as an operator or an idler, is indicated at 87, and is looselv mounted on head shaft 36. The lower hub portion of head 87 is provided with clutch teeth for engagement by clutch teeth formed upon a clutch collar 88. The clutch collar 88 is keyed to shaft 36 against independent rotation with respect thereto but in a manner to be shifted longitudinally thereon into and out of engagement with head 87. An operating lever 89 is pivoted at 90 and is provided with a fork 91, as illustrated in Fig. 14, for projection into a fork groove 92, of the collar 88. Lever 89 is provided with an extension 93, secured thereto at 94, and the extension 93 is preferably of yielding material. A catch tooth 95 is mounted on a portion 96, of the frame structure, and the extension 93 is provided with a tooth 97 which is adapted to be sprung into or out of engagement with tooth 95. When in the position shown in Fig. 15,

head, which may function either with head 87 but 95, the lever will 88 in clutch engagement when released from tooth descend by gravity.

Thus a Winding device is provided for ,operating or advancmg trucks upon the transfer car from either side thereof, or ofi from said car in opposite directions. Furthermore, it' will be seen that the sheave devices, in constant operative connection with the cable, drums to advance the transfer car, but also through the winding devices to operate the trucks, the latter function being performed when the transfer car is locked in a position of rest.

It is believed that the advantages and utility of my invention will be clearly understood from the foregoing description, and while I have herein shown and described one specific form of my invention, I do not wish to be limited thereto except for such limitations as the claims may import.

I claim 1. In a transfer mechanism, a transfer car, trackage therefor, an endless running cable extending along said trackage, sheave shafts rotatably mounted on said car, a sheave on each shaft about each of which one lap of said cabl. is trained, a winch on one shaft, a gypsy head on the other of said shafts, and devices for connecting said winch and head in driven relation with said shafts, substantially as described.

2. In a transfer mechanism,

car,

a transfer trackage therefor, an endless running not only act through the brake the lever will hold the clutch collar I cable extending along said trackage, a sheave shaft driven by one lap of said. cable and provided with a friction head, a winch loose on said shaft, and means for shifting said winch on said shaft into frictional engagement with said head to connect said winch in driven relation with said shaft, substantially as described.

' 3. In a transfer mechanism, a transfer car, an endless running cable, a drive and idler sheave on said car about which one lap of'the cable is trained in crossed drive, a drive and idler sheave on said car about which the other lap of said cable is trained in direct drive, and means for arresting either of said drive sheaves to advance the car in'the direction in accordance with the sheave arrested, substantially as described.

4. In a transfer mechanism, a truck, transport tracks for the truck, a transfer car promeans, a transfer car for means, a transfer car in constant connection with said cable means and adapted to transfor said truck to and from said transport tracks, means on said car for connecting the latter in driven relation with said cable means to advance said car, and mechanism on said car driven from said cable means for advancing said truck either onto or ofl from said car, substantially as described.

6. In a transfer mechanism, a' truck, transport tracks for said truck, running cable transferring said truck from one to the other of said transport truck and car advancing mechanism on said car in constant connection with said cable means, means mechanism with said vance said car, and means connecting said mechanism with said cable means to advance said truck either onto or ofl' from said car, substantially as described.

In a transfer mechanism, a truck, transport tracks for said truck, running cable means, a transfer car for transferring said truck from one to the other of said transport tracks, mechanism on said car constantly operated by said cable means, means connecting said mechanism with said'car to advance the latter, and means connecting said mechanism with said truck to either advance the latter onto or off from said car, substantially as described.

8. In a transfer mechanism, a truck, transfor connecting said cable means to adport tracks for said cable loop, a transfer ring said truck from one transport tracks, shafts rotatably mounted on said car, a sheave on each shaft with a lap of said cable loop trained about each s eave to constantly drive said shafts, truck actuating devices for connection with said shafts, and devices for arresting said shafts to advance said car, substantially as described.

9. In a transfer mechanism, a truck, transport tracks for said truck, a running cable a transfer car for transferring said k from one to another of said transport tracks and itself I provided with transfer tracks adapted" to register with said transport tracks, mechanism in constant connection with said cable loop and adjustable to advance or free said car therefrom, means for locking said car in registry with selected transport tracks when said car is adjustably ee from driven connection with said cable, and truck actuating devices adjustably connectible with said cable when said car is in a position of rest, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aflin my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

DANIEL R. TAN N ER.

truck, a running car for transferto another of said Witnesses:

N ELLIE HILLS, C. H. FINN. 

